Disappearing Umbilical Cord, Disrupted Body Wall: Late Sonographic Diagnosis of Body Stalk Anomaly—A Case Report and Literature Review
Body stalk anomaly; limb-body wall complex; abdominal wall defect; prenatal ultrasound; fetal anomaly; case report
AuthorsAbstractBackground: Body stalk anomaly (BSA), also known as limb-body wall complex (LBWC), is an extremely rare and almost uniformly lethal disruption of early embryonic folding. Because of its lethality, the central clinical challenge lies in early identification and accurate diagnosis, which are essential for appropriate antenatal counselling and management. Case Presentation: We report a 27-week gestation in a 2nd-gravida woman referred for a suspected fetal abdominal wall defect detected on antenatal ultrasound. Sonography demonstrated a large ventral wall defect with herniation of abdominal contents, ventriculomegaly, kyphoscoliosis, and an abnormally short umbilical cord with direct placental attachment, consistent with body stalk anomaly. Because the condition was incompatible with extrauterine survival, the pregnancy was terminated. The male neonate, born vaginally, weighed 1000 g with an Apgar score of 1/0 and showed a giant closed omphalocele, spina bifida, anorectal malformation, low-set ears, and bilateral congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV); the herniated viscera remained covered by amniotic membrane and were directly continuous with the placenta. Conclusion: Body stalk anomaly must be distinguished early from other, more survivable, anterior abdominal wall defects such as gastroschisis and omphalocele, because its prognosis and counselling implications differ substantially. First-trimester ultrasound remains the cornerstone of diagnosis, enabling timely, informed decision-making for affected families.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ejprd.org - Published by Riset Publication Services LLC
EJPRD
Copyright ©2026 by Riset Publication Services LLC